B7＜限定盤＞

Brandy laid the indestructible foundation of her musical legacy with three platinum albums in eight years. On the last song of her fourth album, she claimed hard-fought control and contemplated retirement. Albums five and six spread across a quadrennial release schedule as the singer directed her energy to other pursuits and went through a lifetimes worth of personal and professional setbacks. Considering all of that and an ensuing album drought of almost eight years, Brandys relationship with music seemed reluctant at best, even as the dry spell was mitigated by gutsy independent 2016 and 2019 singles and a Grammy-nominated duet with Daniel Caesar. The collaboration with Caesar and support from the likes of Solange made it clear that Brandy would at least have a place reserved for her. Its seemingly the approach of those two younger artists -- progressive, deeply thoughtful, unequivocal R&B with no pandering to the mainstream -- to which Brandy adheres on B7. Brandy co-wrote each song and had a hand in the production of almost all of them, joined primarily by Darhyl Camper (Toni Braxton, H.E.R.), Kim Krysiuk (Ariana Grandes 7 Rings), and LaShawn Daniels (who co-wrote Brandy and Monicas The Boy Is Mine and a bunch of other hits, and died before the album was completed). The whole set has a slightly coarse-grained quality that heightens the tension expressed in the lyrics, much of which works out grave personal and interpersonal crises. Snaking beats, fluid bass lines, and cascading harmonies, mixed with lyrical references to (and the sound of) flowing water, ease the friction by evoking constant steady motion. The contrast Brandy provides herself is similar. Her voice is deeper than ever with increased grit, and at the same time, her voice has never sounded so wise, comforting, and pacific. Not everything is burbling tumult, either. The slap-and-tickle slow jam Rather Be and dizzied love song No Tomorrow are two of the sweetest songs in her catalog, while High Heels and Baby Mama, collaborations with daughter Syrai and Chance the Rapper, add power and light. Moreover, theres joy and relief in hearing Brandy lay her troubles down. She and her fellow writers and producers have put together the type of album that drowns out the world and keeps giving with each play. ~ Andy Kellman

前作から8年というブランクは26年のキャリアの中で最長ながら、オーガスト・グリーンやダニエル・シーザーなど近年の名客演のおかげで存在感は高まり、チャンス・ザ・ラッパーを迎えた母親讃歌な先行曲"Baby Mama"の好評もあってアルバムへの期待値を高めていたブランディ。待望の7作目は、そのダニエルとのコラボ"Love Again"(本作にも再収録)に関わったDJキャンパーを制作の核に据えている。これまでもプログレッシヴなR&Bを試みてきたブランディだが、今回は現行R&Bモードに彼女ならではのテイストを注入してアップデートした傑作といえるだろう。ポップさを削ぎ落としたクールなサウンドから、主役のハスキーな声質の旨味がくっきり浮かび上がってくるプロダクションは見事だ。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子